Brad Huff Wins Cannon Falls Road Race, Emma White Third

The team continued its domination of the North Star Grand Prix on Thursday with Brad Huff powering to victory in the stage four Cannon Falls Road Race. Huff won with a powerful sprint after some crucial teamwork to cross the line ahead of Tyler Magner (Holowesko | Citadel) and Jose Alfredo Rodriguez Victoria (Elevate-KHS). Colin Joyce finished sixth to give Rally Cycling two riders in the top ten while Brandon McNulty retained his overall lead.

Both the men’s and women’s races featured numerous attacks and breakaway attempts but were ultimately decided in sprint finishes in downtown Cannon Falls. In addition to a tough, rolling course the weather played a significant factor – stiff winds, heat and humidity worked against breakaways and all but assured the sprinters would fight it out for the stage victory.

Brad Huff atop the podium after stage four

“The team's strategy was to smash it in the cross winds, but it seemed like everyone had the same plan, and every crosswind section was full gas,” said Brad Huff. “We wanted to protect Brandon and Evan with the stage win being secondary. Groups were going up the road all day, so it was pretty disorganized. On the finishing circuits, I was in a small group off the front, and I radioed back that the team needed to bridge. Out of nowhere, Brandon appeared and tapped me on the shoulder. He went to the front kept the pace high, and I was able to get it in the sprint.”

Emma White gets some help displaying her jersey collection

In the women's race, Emma White continued to show that she is one of the strongest riders in the North American peloton by crossing the line third. In a photo finish, Ruth Winder (UnitedHealthcare) and Marlies Mejias Garcia (Weber Shimano Ladies Power) pipped White for the top two spots on the podium. White’s third place keeps her in the overall lead and atop the standings in the Best Young Rider competition. It was her second podium performance of the week.

“The team rode great today to protect the yellow jersey,” said White. “The race went as planned and I had a perfect lead out for the finish. Unfortunately, there was a little bit of a kick up to the line, and I went a little too early and couldn’t hold it. I am still in yellow, and there are three more stages, so we are going to try to defend and grab a couple more stage wins.”

Katherine Maine and White celebrate the team's successful defense of the yellow jersey

On Friday the race moves to Minneapolis for the Uptown Criterium and concludes over the weekend with the North Mankato Road Race on Saturday and the infamous Stillwater Criterium on Sunday.